London Underground turns 150

On 9 January 1863 the world’s first underground train pulled out of Paddington station to make the first passenger journey - 3½-miles under the streets of London from Paddington to Farringdon and into the record books.

The original Underground line was built and financed by the Metropolitan Railway, a private company which had been formed in 1854 to undertake the project to link the mainline stations at Paddington, Euston and King’s Cross with the City centre business district to the east.

Travelling on the new railway was a novelty that thousands of Londoners were eager to experience and on the first day of public service – long queues formed at every station. The line was a huge success with 26,000 passengers using the railway each day in the first six months. (via London Transport Museum)

I can't imagine the city of London without the Underground, or the Tube as most Londoners refer to it. I rely on it to transport me across the city whenever I am there. I do try to avoid the rush hour, but always enjoy walking in most stations. I enjoy seeing all the posters advertising the cultural events across the city, listening to the buskers and watching all walks of life in the stations and trains.

Happy birthday to the London Underground. Here's to another 150 years. I leave you with this cheesy but cute short video called "Automatic Fare Collection and You" from 1969.